South Florida mayors to fight MMA bout for charity, Italian dinner

Carlos Hernandez and Michael Pizzi are mayors of neighboring South Florida cities. After trading rhetorical jabs, they’ve decided to trade real ones this summer in an MMA bout for charity.

The loser also buys a nice Italian dinner.

“If taking a couple of punches is going to raise money for college scholarships and anti-child obesity efforts, then in my mind, it’s certainly worth it,” Pizzi told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Hialeah mayor Hernandez plans to raise money for Best Buddies, a non-profit for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He may or may not have reach on Miami Lakes’ Pizzi, but at 52, he’s got two years of old-man strength on his side.

Hernandez called himself a trained fighter and mentioned he’s trained with MMA’s royal family, the Gracies. Pizzi said he’s a “Brooklyn street-brawler.”

Both claim they know what they’re getting into.

“Carlos is an athlete into aerobics,” Pizzi said. “I’m of the Tank Abbott (and) Roy Nelson school of training, which is have a six-pack of beer, get off a bar stool and knock the guy out in the first three punches.”

Unsurprisingly, this fight was conceived under the influence of alcohol. The two were having a friendly dinner a month ago when the discussion turned to who could beat who up. Then photographers asked them to pose opposite each other as fighters, the Internet got involved, and reporters started calling. They figured they should strike while the iron was hot.

“My biggest fear is not getting knocked out or choked out,” said Pizzi. “My biggest fear is going into that ring with a double-chin and a couple rolls of fat on my stomach.”

“Even if we survive the first round, I think we’ll both throw in the white flag,” joked Hernandez.

But neither is backing out, at least yet. Hernandez is looking for a promoter to organize an event for August at Hialeah’s Milander Auditorium. He said since the fight has gone public, he’s been deluged with requests for tickets.

There’s more at stake for both than just bragging rights.

“It’s very hard to raise money for charity,” said Pizzi. “There are so many rubber-chicken galas, there are so many silent auctions and there’s such competition for funds. It’s increasingly difficult in this economy to raise money for good causes. This is something that’s already served its purpose.

“The other thing it helps demonstrate to our aging population in both of our cities that there’s a life past 50. It gives us an excuse to get into shape, so people don’t laugh when we take off our shirts.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.